Material handling mechanism



Jan. 30, 1940. N. D. L EvlN MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nrv Q f h /N VEA/TOR.- /Y//S D. eV/f7,

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N. D. I EvlN A MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Jan. 3o, 1940.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original File/d Feb. l5. 1934 /NVE/v ToRn /V//s D Lev/, 'BY MM, 771. M,

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Jan. 30, 1940. N. D. I EvlN MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet- 3 Jan. 30, 1940. N. D. LEvlN MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM e sheetsheet 4 Original Filed'Feb. 5, 11934 /N VEA/TOR: /V//s D Lev/n,

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MATERIAL HANDLING MEcHANIsM original Filed Feb. 5, 1934 e sheets-sheet 5 l, I5@ l; 155 4 84h 84h f@ fs 4@ /Nl/E/YTOR: x /V//S D. Lev/h,

Eg. I3 AT'T.

Patented Jan. 30, 1940 Jeffrey Manufacturing tion` of Ollio n Application February 5, i934,

Company, a corporaf- Serial No. 709,746

- Renewed December 9, 1937 20 Claims.

In material handling operations, illustrated for example, in coalmining, there are frequently employed machines comprising gathering and loading devicesA forthe purpose of loading coal 5 fromv the face of a mine working and to deposit such coal into` mine cars, by means of which the coal may be quickly removed 'from the mine.

My invention relates to such ardevice and embraces, generally, a gathering conveyor adapted to'gather loose coal shot down from `a working face, and a rear or discharge'conveyor adapted to receive thev coal gathered `by the gathering conveyor, which gathering conveyor has its delivery end arranged above the receiving end of the dischargel or rear conveyor, the former being supported for pivotal movement about avertical axis at its discharge end. The receivingy end `of the rear conveyor is formed as a hopper and is adapted to receive' coal as it is discharged from 20 the delivery end `of said gathering conveyor.

laxis supported by the receiving section. Thevrey 30 ceiving section together with the two other sections is mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and for pivotal movement about a vertical axis by a turntable supported by the truck frame.l

, In accordance with the present invention, im-

provements are also made in the gathering conveyor of the machine, which gathering conveyor is mounted for horizontal pivotal movement rela- 'tive tothe rear orv dischargev conveyor; and the gathering conveyor is adapted also to be lifted vertically for the insertion therebeneath of a pony truck for facilitating transportation of the machine fromA one place to another in a mine.

Also, in the'present invention, instrumentalities are provided for enabling the gathering conveyor of the machine to be vertically tilted along -the longitudinal axis of the conveyor towards either side; and one of the objects of the presi ent invention is to provide av construction where-` 5 by` this tilting may be facilitated, in lorder. to

more readily feed the gathering conveyor into the coal to be loaded into the mine cars.

A further object of the present invention is for eiecting horizontal feeding movement of the gathering conveyor.

y.A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the character indicated above, in which the above enumerated features '5' are combined to produce a vmachine which is very flexible in its operation and is very easily handled.

AThe invention is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the ac- '10 companying drawings, and described in the following spe'ciiication, and it isl more" particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a loading machine ern- 15 bracing the lfeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is la side elevation of the machine of Fig. I1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing details oi the gathering end, Fig. Sbeinga continuation `Si() of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevationy of th head end of thergathering conveyor, showing details of construction of cable winding mechanism and operating means -therefor,'this View l2li completing the showing of Fig. 3`;

'i Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation ltaken on line y V5---5 of Fig. 4;

to fprovide improved and simplied mechanism Fig. .15@is a diagrammatic view lshowing Fig. 6 is a viewshowing details or construction of brake mechanism.I forvcontrollingv the e30 cable actuating mechanism, the view being taken generally on4 the line 6-6 of Fig. 4,. looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 vis` a sectional View taken on the line lf-'l of Fig. 3`;

' Fig. 8 is a plan View of a pawl actuating lever, the View being taken in the plane of the line 8--8 of Figl, looking inthe direction of the arrows; I Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9`9 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of `the arrows;

Fig. V10v is a diagrammatic view showing the position. of the machine for sumping operations; Fig.; 11 is a diagrammaticview showing the l position of the machine when loading a mine car from the l-eft sideof a" square mine face; l

Fig. 12..,is a diagrammatic View showing the position of the machine when loading from the right side of an arcuately cut mine face;.,r

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the Ymachine loading from` a rst cut in'islabb'ing ope erations;v y v l Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the second cut in slabbing operations;

the 55 lroom provided With a double track;

v Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic View showing the position of themachine when loading in a position of the machine when loading from a cross-cut in a mine room when no track is employed in the cross-cut;

Fig. 1'7 is a diagrammatic view showing the position of the machine when loading from a cross-cut in a mine room when the machine is positioned on a sharp curve.

It may be noted in this connection that Figs.

One of the principal features ofl the invention lies in the mechanism for feeding the gathering conveyor into piles ormaterial, such as coal shot down from a mine face, for. enabling the flights of the gathering conveyor to pick up the same. Specically, the gathering conveyor, includes the base plate i, which has a portion 2 tapering towards the gathering end of the conveyor A. The base plate l has welded to it corresponding brackets 3, which are hinged at 4 (see Fig. 4) to a bracket 5, which connects the conveyor A to rear conveyor section B. The

hinge l embraces a pin 6 secured in the arms 'I of the brackets '3, this pin operating in a slot 8 of bracket 5 secured to bracket 9.- v

By having this pin and slot hinge the vfront portion of the gathering conveyor A may be iifted vertically by means of mechanism tovbe described hereinafter, so that a pony truck may be positioned under the, conveyor for transportation of the machine along a mine track. Also by having the pin and slot hinge the gathering conveyor A may be laterally tilted to the extent permitted by this hinge, by means describedhereinafter when it is desired to so operate the gathering conveyor duringfeeding operations. For positioning thek pony truck under the'gathering conveyor A, the latter isv lifted suiciently to connect the pony truck withV the coupling t9, which forms a pivotal connection between the truck and conveyor. When the machine is moved along a minel track, shoes 'I6 en gage the rails oi the track to space the front end of the discharge conveyor from the track rails and support said front end on said rails.

Forenabling the ,gathering conveyor to be swung horizontally, it isv pivotally interconnected at i to the bottom Il of discharge conveyor B. The pivotal connection I includes a ring 10a welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate Il of the discharge conveyor. B. The bracket of the gathering conveyorispro-v vided with an opening wb having van annular shoulder Ic therein, which opening Mib isbrought into registry with the ring 50a, when the conveyors A and B are connected together. The connection between the conveyors is secured by means of a retaining plate Ha secured by rivets, or the like, IIb. l

It will be observed that the pivotal coupling 69 is` positioned to the left of the center of gravity of the gathering conveyor A. This results inthe discharge end of the gathering conveyorbeing mine continuously in vraised position so as to clear the receiving hopper of discharge conveyor B.

The mechanism for operating the gathering, y

conveyor Aincludes a motorl indicated generally at l2 (Figs.` Zand 4, for example) which is 'mounted on the frame of the gathering conveyor' A and l f which drives shaft i3 through suitable standard type speed reducing gearing (not. shown), enl

closed in housing it; Keyed to shaft I3 for rotation therewith is a sleeve i5, provided with a iiange i5 to which is bolted, bymeans of bolts il, a housing i8, which encloses a friction disc' coupling i9. Therefore, as housing i8 rotates,

the discs 2t! connected. to the housing I8 are ro- .Ament between discs 2D and 2i may be adjusted', by meansv of springs 23, thek pressure of which springs may be varied by screwV plugs 24', po-r sitioned in bosses figa on the ange i6.

l Sleeve 22 is' keyed to asecond shaft, which y is thus rotated. Shaft Z'is. provided withfa ybeveled pinion 2G which mesheswitn a beveled gear 2l, keyed'to an upstanding shaft 2i3,fo rv rotating this shaft; and it will beunderstoodof course, that shaft 2t is rotated continuously through the drive mechanismdescribed above as long as the motor l2 is operating.` The resultingv f thrust transmitted to shaft 25 isA carried by a of casting Casting 33 forms the support for the motor l2,

reducing gear housing i4, shaft 25. and shaft 28;

and is' bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the base plate of the gathering conveyor A, Shaft 28 is kheid in position by top and bottom bolts 28a, 28a, and retaining washers'b, 28h.

Shaft 28 constitutes the driving member fork the mechanism for laterally feedingthe gather ing conveyor A into the coal. Shaft A2B .also has keyed thereto the sprocket 35 which acts as the driving sprocketfor the gathering conveyor Chain Which will be referred to hereinafter in greater detail. l

. The mechanism enabling the gathering conf` veyor A to beswung laterally for feeding into the coal to 'be handled bythe loader, includes the superposed drumsSS and 3l loosely mountedv on the shaft 23, and provide-d with mechanism enabling the shaft to operate the drums, j The drums 3% and 3l have wound thereon the cables 38 and 39, respectively.

Drums 3e and 3l areindependently operabla there being provided'operating means including a unit embracingy a spider lin the form of a casting dil having mounted therein thepawls 4i and 42, pawl il operating drum 3G and pawlr 42 op erating drum 3l, the pawls being arranged 'so that when one of them'is in operative position,

the other drum is operated toy wind its cable.

For operating,'the drums are provided interiorlyr with abutmentasuch as indicated at 43, against which the corresponding pawl is adapted'to enf gage when in operative position. It will bek understood that when the motor l2 is runningl in one direction, one of the drums, for instance the other is ininoperative position so that one; I of the drums will be ireeto pay out its cable as ydrum Se, may be v operated Whiledrum 31 is' i free, and when the motor is reversed, drum 3'! may be operated and drum 3B becomes free.

This means, of course, that the pawls 14| -and 42 must be shifted responsively to reversals of the` motor, and mechanism for so doing is provided.v This mechanism will be described hereinafter. Figs. 4 and 9 illustrate ythe details of the pawl and drum mechanism.

The mechanism whereby the paWls 4I and 42 may be operated will now bedescribed. Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 and 6 it will be seen that shaft 28 is provided with a gear 44, which, of course, continuously rotates with the shaft 28. This gear forms a sun pinion for operating a system of planetary gears made up of gears 45,46, 41 and48, as viewed in Fig. 6, and which normally are free to rotate around the pinion 44 of the planetary system, rotating with them the brake drum 49. It will be observed from Fig. 4 that the brake drum 49 is provided with projections 58 which serve as shafts for the planetary gears, and through which motion is transmitted to the brake drum. A brake band .5I surrounds the brake drum 49, the brake band 5l being operated by lever 52 and the right and left handed screws shown in Fig. 6. Pressure exerted on` the `brake band restrains the brake drum Aand secures the gears 45, 46, 41 and 48 against traveling around the teeth of gear 44. This restraining of rotation of the drum 49 holds the lplanetar-y gearing against rotation around gear 44, but these gears 45, 46, 41 and 48 are continued `to be driven by the continuously rotating gear 44. r v y In mesh with the planetary gearing is an internal gear illustrated at'53, see Figs. 4, 5 and 6 to which is riveted, by rivets 55, 55, the casting y48, so that, when the brake band 5I is applied to the brake drum 49 to stop the rotation of the latter, either pawl 4l or 42 will be brought into operative position with their respective drums, depending upon the direction of rotation of the 'shaft 28.

Lever 52", operating the brake band, isheld normally in inoperative position by means of a spring y 56 supported on a rod at 51, the spring 56 bearing against housing 58. Lever 52 is operated by a cable 58a secured at 59 to the end of lever 52, this cable passing over sheave 68, mounted on standard 6|,and extending around a capstan 62, which is mounted on the section B of the rear conveyor, as seen in Fig. 2.( When capstan 62 is operated to wind cable 53a thereon, lever 52 is operated against the pressure of spring 56 to apply brake band 5l to the brake drum 49.

To the top part ofthe casting 46 is secured by capscrews 63a, a cap 63 which forms a retainer for the rope drums and also a bearing for one end ofthe pawl shaft 86. The lever 64 is secured to the upper end 86 of the 'pawl shaft and is pivotally shiftable relative to cap 63. Shifting the lever 64 from one extreme to the other, positions one or the other of the pawls in Contact with their respective abutments 43 and 43a of the drums 36 and 31. The shifting of lever 64 may be automatically accomplished by a friction plate 88 pivotally secured to sheave support 66 which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 6Ia carried by the support 6I. is faced with a friction material 88a and is located above and eccentric of the pivotal point of lever 64 and in frictional engagement with plate that the lever 64 will rotate therewith, the lever being xed to the topend 86 of the pawl shaft. "It maybe' seen that the bottom end 86a of the The plate 88v pavvl-shaft is journaled in the casing 40 while the top portion 86 is journaled in the cap 63.

` When the motor is operating to rotate the cast-` ing 40 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9 the lever 64 will be retarded in its rota# tion by the friction plate 88 together with the weight of sheaves 61, 63 and sheave support 66 resting upon the plate 64a. When the lever 64 Ithe cables 38 and 39 extend from the drums 36 and 31 to the front of gathering conveyor A, these cables being suitably guided on sheaves, such as illustrated at 86, 8i and 82 (Figs. 2 and 4). One of these cables, for example cable 38, is mounted so as to extend from one side of the conveyor A, while the other cable 39 extends tothe opposite sider of conveyor A. This is illustrated clearly in Figs. 3 and 7 and it will be seen from'these views that in order to effect this, the similar sheaves 82 and 82a are enclosed in the respective housings 84 and 84a, which, however, have their opposite sides cut away, as indicated at 85 and 85a for the passage Aof these cables.

The purpose of this arrangement is clearly the machine to various kinds of cuts at a working faceu It will be seen in each instance that by rotating one of the drums, 36 or 31 as the case may be, to shorten the corresponding cable, after paying out the other cable, a corresponding turning movement of the gathering section isv effected. These views will be referred to in more detail hereinafter. v

From Fig. l. it will be observed that the base plate l, of the conveyor A, has the tapering section il, as` previously mentioned herein. This section 2, because of its tapering configuration, and correspondingly reduced Width, lends itself to a more ready lateral tilting than would b ethe case were the Width of the left-hand part of the gathering `conveyor,`as viewed in Fig. 1, maincarries flights 98, and the chain and flights are provided with means` for preventing a whipping action of the flightsl as the chain passes around the respective sprockets, thereby preventing scattering of the material being conveyed beyond the limits of the loader. For preventing the whipping action, the conveyor chain includes links 9|, which are of rounded configuration to provide cam surfaces 92. l k

Each of the :flights 98 is freely pivoted on pin 93a. to a selected link 93, and each of the flights 98 is provided' with laterally projecting Alugs `or wings 94 which are adapted to engage the cam surfaces 92y of adjacent links 9|'.

The ends of the lugs 9.4 are also cammed as at 95,` to cooperate with the cam surfaces Q2. AThe cooperating cam surfaces 92 and 95 p-rovide a means for progressively reducing the speed of the flights as they reach discharging position, the flights yielding gradually under the weight of the material as the chain and flights pass around the sprocket 35, thereby preventing forcible throwing of the material through the discharge end of the conveyor trough. It will be seen, therefore, that as the flights travel along the conveyor, the weight of the material being conveyed Willvtend to press the flights rearwardly around the pivot points 93a, and will maintain the lugs 94 continuously in l engagement with adjacent cam surfacesv 92. Therefore, instead of whipping around the sprocket at the front end of the gathering conveyor, eachv flight will be turned backwardly gradually around its pivot 93a and the rear lug 94 maintained in engagementwith its adjacent cam surface 92 until the material is completely discharged. In this way the objectionable whipping action referred toV above is prevented, and the material is transferred without excessive force fromv the conveyor A into section B of the rear conveyor. i

Each of the flights 90y is formed with an upstanding web Q6, each web having its edge notched, as indicated at S1. to facilitate entry of the gathering conveyor into a pile of coal when swung laterally. That is to say, these notches or teeth perform the function of serving to` penetrate into and grip the material being acted upon.

From Fig. 5 it will be noted that the links of the conveyor chain are guided in the course of their travel by guidesv 98,. which include top and bottom members 99 and |00, and a side wall member ||l|, holding the members 9S and |510 in proper spaced relation. The parts are secured in position by means of rivets |62 extending from the bottom of the conveyor trough to casting 33. The top and bottom guide members have similarly shaped, but oppositely directed grooves |63 and |194, in which oppositely extending lugs |05 and |36 of the conveyor chains are adapted to run andv which form a track inV which lugs |05 and lG travel.

Receiving the material discharged from the y gathering conveyor A is the receiving section B of the rear conveyor,.which conveys the material to the intermediate and discharge sections of the rear conveyor. The receiving section B is up` wardly inclined so that the discharge section C will be elevated sufciently above the level of thev mine oor to eect loading of mine cars or the like. Section B includes a hopper-like. matethe; dischargeend Ii of the gathering conveyor A,-conveyor A being connected to the bottom H of the hopper |08 by the pivotal connection Eil.

On the plate HIJ welded to the trough v||| of section B, ythere is welded the arcuate strip l2, which forms an arcuate track for shoe H3 which is. welded to bracket 5.

Positioned on section B are reversing switch l i9 for motor |29, which operates conveyor chain running in guides HS, and control box |2I, which controls both motors |25) and |2. Conduc-` tor cable |22 suppliescurrent to motor i 2. Reversing switch |2|a controls motor I2.

Also mounted on section B is the winding drum |23a, for operating the cable |23, which cable is employed -for lifting the gathering conveyor A chine bei-ng in its adaptabilityy toy handle mato beneath portion C, forming reinforcing and also forfacilitatingadjustment of theV ma# l Y' chine for various types o f cutas illustratedin Figs. to 1'7 inclusive. When employedl--forV lifting the gathering conveyor A, cable: |23 passes from the drum |2`3a over guide pulley |24. (Fig. 1), I l l sheave BS mounted on the sheavesupport 66, l thence around sheavej|26 on the section B, thence around sheave .61 also mounted'onsup. port $5, thence back to an eye t28 on section B Where it is fastened. When employed as' infFigs. 10 to 17 inclusive, the cable |23 is releasedfrom these mountings,` and passed.l around suitable ones of "the'guide f r sheaves |29, |30, |3|, i132 or |33,'as may be requiredfor the given location, the Vfree end ofthe cable being anchored to a jackiia as willbecome` apparent from Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive.

TheY horizontal discharging section C of the rear conveyor is made up of two pivotally inter-' the extreme endv section. l. It desirable that sectionC be vertically yield;- able, one of the advantages'of the present ma#- connectedl parts C and C, rthe latter'iorminglo.UVA

terial, such as coal, when in large lumps. In coalv mining operations, therefore, the amountgoblasting required to shatter the working lface-of the coalis materially reduced. -In View of. the fact that the space in which the operations are carried.. out is frequently very limited, it sometimes happens that large lumps of .coal may become lodgedl between the discharge unit of the. machine and the ceiling of the mine rcominv* which. the machine is; operating. In order to" prevent possible damage or breakage of partsv oi"r the machine under such conditions, sectionC is vertically yieldable. y

To this end, the portion C" of, sectionv C is yieldaby interconnected` by suitableY hinge struc,- ture to the receiving section B. vIhis yieldable hinge structure includes Athe hinge or pivotalarms |34. which are secured to the end of they side walls-of the trougho section B. A pin xed to section C is pivoted in arm |34. v j

Each arm |34 is bifurcated at its end for receiving. an eye bolt |31. Each of these| boltsis `secured in positionby a pin` |38., which pin,"

which the bolts4 |137 are passed- The .tension of ,.55

springs; |39' is adjusted by means of Vthe nuts Ifll, the. springs yieldably cushioning the pore tionV C. and therefore section Cy under verticalk impacts which may be impressed thereon. l.

In addition to` being vertically yieldable, theA rearl conveyor is mounted for pivotal movementY 'so thatl the ends may ybe moved tovarying heights during operation. 'Ihe rear conveyor is therefore turnably mounted around axisv 36' suitably.vv mounted on a turntable which isl mounted for pivotal' movement about an upright or verticalv axis on the frame of the truck |43.

Plate M2 extends along the underside of` sec`` tion C, extending from beneath theportlon C' k means for these portions and for the sectionC..` Plate |132 is welded tothe underside of the botl. tom of the conveyor trough of portion C'.

The end portion or section C is pivoted at' Mza tothe portion C. .Portion C" isiswingable." f

Ltov l.

lmy v in a horizontal arc around pivot |42a, being carried by the pivot and by anti-friction rollers |44 traveling on an arcuate trackH |45. The rollers |44 are mounted in brackets |46 mounted on the sides of the conveyor trough of section C. Line |41 of Fig. l indicates the division between portions C and B, the ends of the plates forniing'the sides of the trough of these portions being spaced on each side. of the machine, as indicated at |48, suitable guard plates |49 being mounted to prevent escape of material.

. The material is conveyed along the troughs of sections B and C by means of the conveyorychain ||1 to which flights |5| are connected. Chain ||1 is suitably guided by guides ||8, |52, and |50, the return run of. the chain being beneath the conveyor trough, and therefore not shown in the drawings. Truck |43 is mounted on wheels |53 adapted to run on rails |54 of a mine track. Referring 'in more detail to Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive, it will be seen that these views show, in diagrammatic manner, the positions which the machine Vmay take when operating inv connection with various types of mine cuts.

Fig. l` shows the machine in position for sumping operationsl Coal, indicated at |55, has been shot down from the mine face |56. The various sections of the loader are in substantial alinement. and parallel with the mine track |54. The machine is illustrated as' loading a mine car |51. f

In Fig. l0, it will be observed, the cables 38 and 39 extend to opposite sides of the machine, being anchored to .suitable anchors such as jacks 84h. 84h, positioned at substantially'equal distances from. the machine, thus maintaining the gathering conveyor A in alinement. Cable |23 is shown anchoredfto jack 84a positioned closely adjacent to the mine track |54,wthe cable extending forwardly of the machine and feeding the same vin a forward direction upon operation of drum |23a to wind up the cable thereon. It is obvious,` of course, that the cable |23 is readily removable from the .various sheaves to effect the desired manipulation of the cable.

' Fig. 1l shows the'position ofthe machine when loading a miney ycar from the left side of a square mine' face. It will be observed that the gathering conveyor A has been swung to lthe left by paying out cable y38, drum 36 being free, while winding in cable 39 on drum 31. The pull exerted' on the conveyor by winding cable 39 obviously swings conveyor A to the left. Cables 38 and 39 are shown as anchored to jacks 84h which are' in substantially the same position as in Fig. l0. Cable 23 is shown as being guided on sheaves |3| and |32, adjacent theffront end of the rear or discharge conveyor and anchored to jack 84a positioned at a suitable distance to the left of the machine. Tensioning cable |23 by actuating drum |23a is here employed to swing they rear or discharge conveyor having sections B and C as a unit about the `upright pivot provided by theturntable on truck |43. ',It will be seen that in 1l, portion C" of section-C isI pivoted relativelyv to portion C of section'C, so that the machine will easily load a mine car |51 on the track y|54 notwithstanding the large amount or displacement of the gathering conveyor A. In order to effect a complete gathering of the coal, conveyor A may be laterally tilted in a vertical direction by means of jackssuitably positioned under the notches 'l2 of the lateral projection 1|.` Suchjacks associated ywith the floor so that when the cables 38 and 39,l

passed around the respective sheaves, are suitably anchored to a jack, or other remoteI anchorage by means of anchoring eyes such as |58, and then put under tension, the gathering conveyor is maintained tilted laterally during feeding thereof. Also for the purpose of tiltingthe gathering section A, a bracket |59 may be secured at the end of housing 84, which bracket is provided with a projection |604to which the end of cable |23 may be anchored, the cable 23 being rst passed around a guide sheave, or the like, mountedon an anchoring jack positioned at a required distance from` the conveyor. It

will be seen that since the projection |60 is atv `portions C and C of section C together with the pivotal mounting of conveyors A and B will enable the gathering conveyor A to accommodate itself to the `square out conguration of the miner face. u

Fig. l2 shows diagrammatically the position of the machine when loading from the right side of an arcuately cut mine face, and it will be seen in this instance that cable 39 has been paid out from drum 31 while a pull is being exerted upon cable 38, `which is being lwound on drum 36; cables. 38 and 39 being anchored to jacksl 84h, 84h, cable |23 being passed around sheave- |3| and anchored to jack 84ain the position indicated in Fig; l2. Cable |23 is maintained suiciently taut,lof course, to hold the machine'in proper position against displacement. Fig.13 isr a diagrammatic view showing la machineloading 'from a first cut in slabbing" operations. Itv will be seen that cable 39 is employed in this instance, the .cable being wound on its drum while its end is anchored to jack 84b as clearly shown in the drawings. As the coal is gathered the' loader and mine car are suitably moved together toward the left, portions- C and C of the loader being maintained in aline'- ment. y

Cable 38 vis not used in this instance, and cable |23 is anchored to jack 84a positioned adjacent the mine car 51, as vwill be clear from the drawings, and the pullexerted upon cable |23 by winding upon the' drum |23a will correspondingly move the loader along the track |54 ata rate of speed commensurate with the gathering loperations. v

Fig. 14 showsthe position of the machine when loading from 'a second cut'in slabbing operations. It will be observedthat in this operation pivotal movement is eiected between portions C and C,ieeding of the loader being accomplished by vpassing cable-|23 around sheaves |3| and |32 loadingin a mine room provided with a double 't track. yItvwill be seen that mine cars` |51, |51, |51, are positioned on double tracks |54 and |54a, the cars on the track |54a being loadable from the loader on track |55 through the pivotal mounting of portion C of section C as will be seen from the dotted line position of portion C,"

in Fig. l5.

-In order to move the gathering section A to the left, cables 38 and 39 have been paid out and anchored to jacks 8M), B41), as will be 'clear from the figure, cable 38 beingA slack and cable 39 being wound upon its drum 31 so as to pull gathering section A toward the left-hand wall of the mine room as viewed in Fig. 15. a Cable |23 `has been brought forward and anchored to jack 84a positioned adjacent track |54 and gathering section A. This prevents displacement of theloader during operation thereof.

Fig. 16 shows vthe position of the machine whenwloading from a cross-'cut in a mine room when no track is employed in the cross-cut. `It will be observed that the pivotal mounting between portions C" and C' enablesI the loader to be swung into position so that the gathering section A will be enabled to engage the coal in the cross-cut, the entire rear conveyor B being pivotally turned relatively to the truck. Cables 38 and 39 are anchored to jacks Bbas shown, and cable 39 is lwound on to drum 31 in order rrto move' gathering conveyor A to the right as viewed in Fig. 16 so as to gather up the coal. It will be seen that notwithstanding the very substantial displacement of the sections of the loader relatively to each other, 'the mine car |51 is lcontinuouslyvloaded. Cable |23' is passed around sheave |-3I and anchored to jack 84a, as will be clear from the drawings.

Fig.` 11 shows the position of the machine when loading irom a cross-cut in a mine room when the machine is positioned on a sharp curve. It will be seen that the position of the anchoring jacks 8th is such that when a pull isexerted by winding cable '3$,the coal will be continuously gathered and fed to mine car |51. Cable |23 is passed around sheaves-53! and |32 as' clearly shown in the drawinga'and anchored to jack 84a positioned on the left-hand side of the machine and relatively forwardly thereof.

It will-be observed from Figs. l0 to 17 inclusive thatthe loader of the present invention possesses a high degree of flexibility so that a mine car may be continuously7 loaded regardless of the nature or location of the working operations. 'i

It will be observed that access to the springs l 23 of flexible coupling |9`for adjustment thereof may be afforded by means of plate |6| which is Ahingedly mounted at `it?. for enabling the plate to bel vertically lifted.

In the interest of clearnessand in order not to burden the disclosure of the drawings and the specification with structural details which per se .form no part of the invention herein claimed the structures of a number of the parts are shown generally and not in specific detail. In my Patent No. 2,0fi'l',589, dated Julyv 14, 1936, and entitled Material handling mechanism, I haveillustrated in more detail a number of the structural elements herein shown generally. For example, in said patent the structure of the conveyor mechanism inoludingchain H1, flights |5| and guides ll, and |52 is shown in `full detail. Likewise, the structure which provides for the relative swinging movement between the 7; sections C and C""of conveyor C while maintaining a continuous "conveyorl channel is illustrated in full detail in said patent.'r Still iurther, said patent illustrates in full detailthe structure and mounting of the turntable which supports the rear or discharge conveyor having sections B' and C for pivotal movement on the truck H53 about a vertical or upright axis.

above stated, since the vstructural detail's'of these individual elements per se are not the .subject matter of any of the claims oi this patent they are not disclosed herein in detail. f

Obviously thoseskilled in the art may make variousv changes inthe details and arrangementy of partswithout departing from the spirit and,

gathering conveyor and means having notched projections and .extending laterally from the 1ongitudina'l axisgof the gathering conveyor adapted to receive a lifting tool therebeneath for effecting `a lateral tilting of the gathering conveyor. l

2. Material handling mechanism comprising,y

in combination, a. pair of interconnected*convey-4 an embodiors, one of which is a gathering conveyoran'dfv one a discharge conveyor, a pivotal mounting:-

for the gathering conveyor enabling said gath` ering conveyor to be fed laterallyy relatively to the discharge conveyor, a hinged connection between the gathering conveyor andits adjacent v discharge conveyor enabling the gathering conveyor to be laterally tilted, and means having notched projections and extending laterallylfrom` f f the gathering conveyor adapted to receive a lifting. tool therebeneath for effecting a lateral tilting of .the gathering conveyor.

. 3. Material handling mechanism rcomprisi `g the combination with a pair of interconnected conveyors, one of which is a relatively xed discharge conveyor and the other a gathering conveyor pivotally attached'to said discharge conveyor for lateral swinging movement and forkv tilting thereof, of means for operating the gathf ering mechanism of said gathering conveyor; for

swinging said gathering conveyor laterally'and for tilting said gathering conveyor comprising la motor carried by said gathering conveyor, a shaft driven by said motor, saidv shaftl driving said 1 `r` gathering mechanism., a pair of drums mounted on said shaft, means for reversing the operation o-f said motor, means responsive to the reversal.

of operation of said motor for effecting a driving connection between a selected one of. said drums and said shaft while the gathering mechanism reverses its direction of travel, cables attached at one end to each of said drums, said cables being reeved through pulleys adjacent the.

top of lsaid gathering conveyor and adaptedto be anchored at their other ends, whereby .when

themotor is operated a selected drum will be operated` automatically and the gathering vconveyor will swing in a predetermined directionyabout `its pivot and assume a tilted position, and said gathering mechanism will be operated ina predetermined direction to gather material and convey it'to the discharge conveyor.

4.. Material handling mechanism. comprising the combination with a pair of interconnected .k

conveyors, one of which is a relatively l:fixed discharge conveyor and the other a gathering conveyor pivotally attached to said discharge conveyorfor lateral swinging movement and for tilting thereof, of means for operating the gathering mechanism of` said gathering conveyor, fory swinging said ygathering conveyor laterally and for tilting said gathering conveyor comprising a motor carried by said gathering conveyor, a`

ing' connection of a selected one of said drums to said shaft and simultaneously effecting a disconnecting of the other drum from said shaft, cables attached at one endvto each of said drums, said cables extending from said drums to anchor points and connected to said gathering conveyor adjacent'the top thereof, whereby said motor may be operated to effect operation of said gathering mechanismv and effect lateral swinging movement of said gathering conveyor while it is maintained in atilted position. c

5. In a material handling vmechanism, the combination with a truck mounted discharge conveyor having a material receiving end in a low position and a materia-l discharge end, of a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to said discharge conveyor at said material receiving end for'lateral swinging movement and for tilting movement, said gathering conveyor being adapted to swing over a mine bottom to gather material and discharge said material on said discharge conveyor at the material receiving end thereof, gathering mechanism carried by said gathering conveyor, a motor carried by said gathering conveyor, a shaft extending substantially at right angles to the plane of movement of said gathering mechanism and interconnecting said motor and said gathering mechanism., a pair of drums on said shaft, means for selectively connecting one of said drums to said shaft, swinging means adapted to extend laterally of said gathering conveyor to either side and attached to said drums, said means being selectively operative through the selective operation of said drums to effect lateralswinging of said gathering conveyor in a desired direction and to effect simultaneous tilting thereof. y

6. In a loader, the combination with a truck having track. riding wheels, of a discharge conwith respect to said discharge conveyor, three drums, individual cables for said drums, power means foroperating said drums, one of said drums and associatedv cable being operable to move said truck to feed said loader and to swing the forward end of said discharge conveyor laterally, the other of said drums being operable se` lectively to swing said gathering conveyor in reverse directions, in cooperation with their associated cables.

7. In a loader, the combination with a main frame, of a discharge conveyor mounted thereon and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a gathering conveyor pivotally mounted at the forward end of said discharge conveyor and positioned to feed material thereto, said gathering conveyor having a forward end adaptveyor as aforesaid including )two independentlyI operable drumsv vand associated' cablesy adapted tobe anchored in a mine room-,fand means for bracing the forward end of said discharge conveyor against lateral movement during swinging of said gathering conveyor including a motor y driven drum carried thereby and a cable on said drum. adapted to have its free end anchored laterally of said machine.

8. In a loader, the combination with a main frame, of a discharge conveyor mounted thereon and extending` forwardly and downwardly therefrom, a gathering conveyor pivotally mounted at the forward end of said discharge conveyor and positioned to feed material thereto, said gathering conveyor having a forward end adapted to gather material while said gathering conveyor is swung in reverse directions about its pivotal axis, meansr for swinging said gathering conveyor as aforesaid,.and means for bracing the forward end `of said discharge conveyor against lateral movement during swinging o-f said gathering conveyor including a motor driven vdrum carried thereby and a cable on said drum adapted to have its free end anchored laterally of said machine.

9. In a loading machine, the combination'with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a discharge conveyor mounted thereon for adjustment relative thereto ofn an upright axis and extending beyond said truck with the front end in alowered position, a gathering conveyor pivoted to the forward end of said discharge conveyor and adapted to swing relatively thereto on an upright axis while in delivering communication with said discharge conveyor, rope gearing comprising two independently operable cables for swinging said gathering conveyor laterally in reverse directions, and additional rope gearing including a drum carried by said main frame having a cable .thereon and means for directing said cable for pulling said loading machine along said track and for exerting a lateral pull on the forward end of said discharge conveyor to counteract the force thereon caused by llateral swinging of said gathering conveyor.

l0. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck, of a discharge conveyor mounted thereon for adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis and extending forwardly and downwardly from said truck, additional means on the forlward portion of said discharge conveyor for supporting said forward portion near the mine bottom, a gathering conveyor pivoted to the forward end of said discharge conveyor to swing relative thereto on an upright axis, rope winding mechanism, a rope extending from said winding mechanism to and from the front end portion of said dis-charge conveyor and to an anchorage extraneous to the machine for predetermining the direction of `pull on the forward end portion of said discharge conveyor, means for guiding the rope laterally to said anchorage from said discharge conveyor at a position intermediate said truck and said additional supporting means, an-d additional means for swinging said gathering conveyor in reverse directions.

l1. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck movable aloriU a trackway, of a discharge conveyor pivotally mounted thereon and extending downwardly and forwardly into proximity to said trachway, a gathering conveyor connected to said discharge conveyor to swing relative thereto on an upright axis in advance vof ,said-traoliway, means comprising two independently operable rope gearings connected to swing the gathering conveyor in opposite directions to gather material for delivery to lsaid dislliv gathering conveyor swings as aforesaid.

l2. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, of a conveyor having a receiving end adjacent to the mine track and mounted on said truck for adjustment relatively thereto on an upright axis, a gathering conveyor pivotally'connected to said receiving end for swinging movement relatively thereto on an upright axis, means comprising a power operated drum and cable mechanism for pulling said apparatus along said track at a feeding speed and for bracing said receiving end against lateral movement due to swinging of the gathering conveyor, and means for swinging the gathering conveyor for a gathering operation on its upright axis relative to said receiving end.

13. In loading. apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel on a mine track, oa conveyor mounted on said truck for adjustment relative thereto on an .upright axis, the front end of said conveyor being adapted to occupy'a position adjacent to the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to lsaid relatively low front end of saidrst-named conveyor for swinging movement relative thereto on an upright axis, means for adjusting the positionl of said front end of said iirst-named conveyor by swinging it relative to said truck, and additional means for operating said gathering conveyor to gather a load by swinging the same on its upright axis relatively to said first-named conveyor while in delivery communication therewith.

14. In loading apparatus, the combination with a truck adapted to travel along a mine tra-ck, oi a discharge conveyor mounted on said truck for lateral adjustment relative thereto on an upright axis, means associated with the forward portion of said discharge conveyor for rnoving the latter laterally relative to the mine track and for longitudinal feeding movement of the discharge conveyor along the mine track, a gathering conveyor pivotally connected to the forward end of said discharge conveyor for, swinging movement relatively thereto on an 'upright axis, the aforesaid means comprising a rope winding mechanism mounted on said truck, a rope connected to said rope winding mechanism and having its free end adapted to be connected to an anchorage in the mine extraneous tothe machine for moving the truck together with said discharge conveyor along the mine track while said gathering conveyor engages the ground surface in advance of the mine track to effect sumping of the gatheringconveyor into a pile of materia] to be loaded, and means for-guiding the etl for adjustmentrelative thereto on an upright axis, means for supporting the front end vof said discharge conveyor' on the mine track, means preventing lateral movement of said discharge conveyor relatively to the mine track, a gathering vconveyor pivotally connected to the forward end of said discharge conveyor for swinging movement relative thereto on an upright axis while remaining in delivery communication with said discharge conveyor, saidv second-named means comprisingga rope extendingfrom rope winding .mechanism along guiding means transversely of the discharge conveyor in advance of the truck to ananchorage in the mine extraneous to the machine, and a pair of additional rope winding mechanisms operable `to swing said gathering conveyor .independently of said rst-named rope winding mechanism.

i6. In a loading machine, the combination with' a truck, of a discharge 'conveyor mounted on said truck for pivotal movement as a unit withY respect thereto'about a vertical axis, said conveyor comprising an'v endless material moving means-which travels in a continuoustrougnsaid trough comprising two sections one of which is a discharge section which 'aremounted for piv-V` otal movement about a vertical axis whereby material may be discharged to either side of said truck either byy pivoting said discharge conveyor liliV as a unit about a vertical axis'with respect t0` said truck or by pivoting said discharge section about a vertical axis, a gatheringconveyor pivotally mounted and positionedv to feed said discharge conveyor, means for swinging said gathering conveyor to gather material, and independentlyjoperable means for'swinging said discharge conveyor relative tosaid truck.'

1'7. In a loading machine, the combination with 'qb sections, one of lwhich comprisesa loading unit, v

the other of which is a discharge unit which is mounted for .pivotal movement about a vertical Y axis with respect to both said loading unit and said truck, whereby material may be discharged,

to either side of said truck either by pivoting said conveyor as a unit about 'a vertical axis with respect to said truck or by pivoting lsaid discharge unit about-a vertical axis relative to said'l truck, al swingable gathering conveyorfor feeding said loading unit, and two independently o'perable means for adjusting said gathering conveyor and said dischargeconveyor as a unit, rev V spectively.

i8. In a loading machine, the combination with a truck, of a receiving and discharging conf veyor mounted on said truck for pivotalmovement as a unit with respect thereto about a verl l tical axis, said conveyor comprising an endless material moving means which travels in a con-V tinuous trough, said trough comprising three sec-` tions, two of which are relatively .pivotal about' a horizontal axis and form a loading unit, the` third section comprising a discharge unit which is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis with respect to both said loading unit and said truck, whereby material may be ,dis-f l charged to either side of said rtruck either by pivoting said conveyor as' a unit vabout a verl tical axis with respect to said truck or by pivot,-y

ing said discharge unit about a vertical axis relative to said truck, a gathering conveyor pivotedl for swinging movement, and two independently operable power operated means for independent- 'ly adjusting said conveyors.

19. In a loading machine, thecombination with a truck adapted to travel in a mine, of a discharge conveyor on'said truck for pivotal move-l ment as a unit kwith respect thereto about a vertical axis passing intermediate the ends thereofI n swinging said discharge conveyor as a unit relaanaa'mo whereby both the material receiving end and the discharge end of said conveyoi` may be positioned laterally of said truck, said conveyoi1 comprising two sections which are connected for relatively pivotal movement about a vertical axis and a continuous material moving means for said sections, a gathering conveyor pivoted for swinging movement about a vertical axis, and positioned to feed said ydischarge conveyor, means for swinging said gatheringconveyor to gather material, and independently 'operable means for tive to said truck.

20. In a loading machine,` the combination with a truck, of a material receiving and discharging conveyor mounted on said truck for pivotal movement as a unit with respect thereto about a vertical axis passing intermediate its ends whereby both ends of said conveyor may project laterally of said truck, said conveyor comprising a materiale receiving section and a discharge section and a continuous material moving means, said sections being connected for relative pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a gatlfieringr conveyor pivoted about a verticall axis With rev NiLs D. LEVIN. 

